Hydraulic system and method for water control

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the present disclosure involve hydraulic systems and methods for altering a flow of a body of water, such as a river, channel, and/or other flowing or uncontained bodies of water. In one aspect, a hydraulic system provides a velocity barrier for the impedance of aquatic organism migration. More particularly, the velocity barrier may be adapted based on the swimming capabilities of one or more aquatic organisms to impede migration. The aquatic organism may be one or more species of fish, such as species sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus ). The example implementations shown and described herein reference the restriction of the sea lamprey. However, it will be appreciated that other aquatic organisms could be restricted by the presently disclosed technology, for example, with different hydraulic targets depending on swimming capabilities.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/818,948 filed Mar. 13, 2020, and entitled“HYDRAULIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WATER CONTROL”, which is a continuationapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/482,382 filed Apr. 7,2017, and entitled “HYDRAULIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WATER CONTROL” whichclaims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/323,380, entitled “HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS” and filed Apr. 15, 2016. Each of the applications isincorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for flowcontrol of a body of water, such as a river or channel. Morespecifically, aspects of the present disclosure provide for creating avelocity barrier within a body of water to prevent upstream migration ofone or more species of fish and/or to provide watersurfaces forrecreational purposes.

BACKGROUND

Rivers, channels, streams, and other flowing bodies of water are often avital component of cities and towns. However, such tributaries mayprovide passageways for invasive aquatic species to migrate toecosystems in which the aquatic species do not natural occur. Forexample, the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is an invasive, parasiticfish to the Great Lakes Fishery that has been culpable of mass detrimentto populations of native species such as lake trout (Salvelinusnamaycush), steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), whitefish (Coregonusclupeiformis), and chub (Coesius plumbeus). The decline in nativespecies population due to the migration of the sea lamprey from theGreat Lakes upstream into other regions has resulted in a negativeeconomic impact on those regions. Efforts implemented to prevent sealampreys from accessing upstream regions have included the constructionof instream, physical barriers which operate to block passage whileallowing for jumping fish species mobility to perform spawningactivities. However, these barriers are often designed such that nativefish species cannot travel upstream or may not be adequate to preventthe movement of the sea lamprey upstream. For example, many barriersinclude structures on which the sea lamprey may attach to work their waypast the barrier. Other barriers may include pockets within the flow ofwater through the barrier that the sea lamprey may exploit to bypass thebarrier. To prevent the migration of one or more of these parasitic orother types of aquatic wildlife, better controlled and more consistentbarriers are needed.

It is with these issues in mind, among others, that various aspects ofthe present disclosure were developed.

SUMMARY

One implementation of the present disclosure may take the form of abarrier system for prevention of migration of an aquatic species. Thebarrier system may include one or more adjustable barrier sillscomprising an approach surface extending at least partiallyperpendicular to a direction of water flow in a body of water, theapproach surface vertically contracting a volume of water flow in thebody of water, the body of water comprising an upstream portion and adownstream portion. The barrier system may also include plurality offlow guide structures adjacent to at least one of the one or moreadjustable barrier sills to horizontally contract the volume of waterflow in the body of water, each of the plurality of flow guidestructures comprising an elongated wall with a downstream end and anupstream nose end, the upstream nose end extending away from theadjacent at least one of the one or more adjustable barrier sills tofunnel the water flow over the at least one of the one or moreadjustable barrier sills.

Another implementation of the present disclosure may take the form of amethod for controlling a flow of velocity of a body of water. The methodmay include the operations of receiving, at a control system, flow orvelocity information of the body of water from a plurality of sensors,calculating a target flow velocity of a volume of water through a flowvelocity barrier within the body of water based on the receivedinformation, the flow velocity barrier comprising a plurality ofadjustable barrier sills and a plurality of flow guide structuresadjacent to at least one of the plurality of adjustable barrier sills,and transmitting one or more control signals to control at least one ofthe plurality of adjustable barrier sills of the flow velocity barrierin response to the calculated target flow velocity of a volume of waterthrough a flow velocity barrier, the one or more control signals toconfigure the at least one of the plurality of adjustable barrier sillsto allow a flow of water of the body of water over the at least one ofthe plurality of adjustable barrier sills, wherein a velocity of theflow of water over the at least one of the plurality of adjustablebarrier sills equals or exceeds the target flow velocity of the volumeof water through the flow velocity barrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an overhead view of a velocity barrier system forprevention of upstream migration for one or more aquatic species.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of front view of a velocity barrier system forprevention of upstream migration for one or more aquatic species.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section diagram of a gate structure included in avelocity barrier system for prevention of upstream migration for one ormore aquatic species.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first configuration of a velocitybarrier system for prevention of upstream migration for one or moreaquatic species.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a second configuration of a velocitybarrier system for prevention of upstream migration for one or moreaquatic species.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a velocity barriersystem for prevention of upstream migration for one or more aquaticspecies.

FIG. 7A is a cross-section diagram of a first adjustable gate structurefor a velocity barrier system for prevention of upstream migration forone or more aquatic species.

FIG. 7B is a cross-section diagram of a second adjustable gate structurefor a velocity barrier system for prevention of upstream migration forone or more aquatic species.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of an example electronic deviceincluding operational units arranged to perform various operations ofthe presently disclosed technology.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a computing system whichmay be used in implementing embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure involve hydraulic systems and methodsfor altering a flow of a body of water, such as a river, channel, and/orother flowing or uncontained bodies of water. In one aspect, a hydraulicsystem provides a velocity barrier for the impedance of aquatic organismmigration. More particularly, the velocity barrier may be adapted basedon the swimming capabilities of one or more aquatic organisms to impedemigration. The aquatic organism may be one or more species of fish, suchas species sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). The example implementationsshown and described herein reference the restriction of the sea lamprey.However, it will be appreciated that other aquatic organisms could berestricted by the presently disclosed technology, for example, withdifferent hydraulic targets depending on swimming capabilities.

In one aspect, the velocity barrier is operated by a hydraulic structurein a channel that is composed of a sill and one or more flow guidestructures. The sill may include: an approach to create vertical orhorizontal flow uniformity approaching the sill; a crest to generate ahead differential and to pass flood flows; a rundown to maximize thevelocities generated by the head differential; and a stilling basin toreturn the velocities to environmental averages. The flow guidestructures are adapted to create uniform flow velocities at the sill dueto the lateral contraction of the channel. The flow guide structures mayeach include a flow guide wall adapted to force a swim path in highvelocity flow and a flow guide nose adapted based on specific hydraulicsof contraction to limit the velocity separation in three dimensions fromthe flow guide wall. The flow guide structures thus reduce flowseparation at a hydraulic boundary downstream of a contraction.

In some implementations, the velocity barrier may include one or moregates affixed to one or more of the sills to make the hydraulic systemadjustable. An adjustable sill may be actuated by structure adjustmentof the sill or by hydraulic adjustment resulting from adjustment of oneor more sills in the barrier system. Further, the hydraulic structuremay include a boat passage channel having a flow regulation gate and ajumping or velocity barrier and/or a fish passageway having a flowregulation gate and a jumping or velocity barrier.

In one implementation, the velocity barrier may be deployed in ahydraulic system having a supercritical flow redirect structure forgenerating watersurfaces to hydroplane small water craft forrecreational purposes, including human enjoyment and sport, on anuncontained body of water.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an overhead view of a velocity barrier system 100for prevention of upstream migration for one or more aquatic species. Asshown, the velocity barrier system 100 is located within the body ofwater 102 and spans the body from one shore to the other. In otherwords, the velocity barrier system 100, in some embodiments, extendsacross the entire width of the body of water 102. The velocity barriersystem 100 is described herein as being located within a river 102.However, it should be appreciated that the system 100 may be included inany body of water 102 in which water flows in an upstream to downstreamdirection. As such, the description of the velocity barrier 100 in ariver 102 should not be construed as limiting the barrier to thatparticular body of water.

In general, the velocity barrier system 100 operates to contract theflow of water through the barrier in either or both a vertical direction(or river depth) and a horizontal direction (or river width). Bycontracting the volume of the flowing water, the velocity of the flow ofwater is increased as the water passes through the barrier system 100.In some embodiments, the increase in the velocity of the water acts toprevent the migration of certain aquatic species from swimming againstthe current through the barrier 100. Further, through the use of thevarious components of the system 100, the flow velocity may be tunedsuch that some aquatic species are prevented from swimming upstreamwhile allowing other species to pass through the barrier. Further still,the velocity barrier system 100 may be configured such that the flow ofwater through the barrier is consistent or even across the flow barrierto avoid pockets of low-velocity flow that aquatic species may use tobypass the barrier. In this manner, the velocity barrier system 100creates a barrier against the migration of certain aquatic species whileallowing for the natural flow of water downstream.

Initially, the velocity barrier system 100 includes a series of sillbarriers 106 and a series of flow guide structures 104 disposed betweenthe sill barriers. For example, the velocity barrier system 100illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 include six sill barriers 106 of varyingwidths. In the particular embodiment illustrated, a first sill barrier108 (located on the far right of the system 100 of FIG. 2 ) has a firstwidth, a second sill barrier 116 (second to the right of the system) hasa second width, a third sill barrier 114 (third to the right of thesystem) has a third width, and so on. However, the sill barriers 106 ofthe system 100 may be any width as desired and/or dependent on theoverall width of the river 102. Further, the sill barriers 106 may bethe same width as another sill barrier of the system, or different.Further still, the system 100 may include any number of sill barriers106. The number of sill barriers 106 included in the system 100 may bedependent on many factors, including the desired granularity of theadjustment of the flow velocity through the barrier to account forvarious aquatic species and the overall width of the river 102.

Disposed between each of the sill barriers 106 of the system 100 may bea flow guide structure 104. In general, the flow guide structure 104provides barriers between the sill barriers 106 such that water isprevented from flowing from one sill barrier 106 to an adjacent sillbarrier. In one particular embodiment, the flow guide structure 104includes a wall or pier made of concrete or other sturdy material. Theflow guide structures 104 create channels or flow paths through thebarrier system 100 that allow for water to flow. For example and as showin FIG. 1 , water may flow over sill barrier 116 between flow guidestructure 120 and flow guide structure 122. Similar the sill barriers106, the barrier system 100 may include any number of flow guidestructures 104. To allow the water to flow, the flow guide structures104 may extend above the waterline of the river 102, as shown in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, the flow guide structures 104 may extend above ameasured or average high waterline 202 for the river based on a measuredor average yearly fluctuation in the waterline.

In one embodiment of the velocity barrier 100, the flow guide structures104 may be oriented within the body of water 102 with an upstream end128 and a downstream end 130. Both the upstream end 128 and thedownstream end 130 of the flow guide structures 104 may be rounded tofacilitate a uniform flow of water around the ends. Further, theupstream end 128 of the flow guide structures 104 may extend toward theside of the river 102 to provide a smooth flow into and over a barriersill 108. The upstream end 128, or “nose”, of the flow guide structures104 may further operate in conjunction with the nose end of other flowguide structures to provide the smooth flow into a barrier sill. Forexample, barrier sill 112 of the velocity barrier system 100 may beadjacent to a first flow guide structure 104 and a second flow guidestructure 132. To funnel water into the barrier sill 112, a nose end 128of flow guide structure 104 may extend toward a righthand shore of theriver 102. Similarly, a nose end 134 of flow structure 132 may extenttoward a lefthand shore of the river 102. As water encounters the noseends 128, 134 of the flow guide structures 104, 130, the water isdirected into the barrier sill 112 to provide a smooth flow of waterinto the barrier sill. In this manner, the nose ends 128, 134 of theflow guide structures 104 may aid in the velocity control of waterthrough the barrier.

The barrier system 100 may provide a smooth flow of water through thebarrier sills 106 to aid in further preventing the migration of aquaticspecies through the barrier. In general, non-uniformity in the flow ofwater through the barrier may provide areas that the aquatic species mayutilize to bypass the barrier. Therefore, a smooth or uniform flow ofwater through the barrier 100 may provide further prevention of speciesmigration. As such, the nose ends 128 of the flow guide structures 104aid in providing this uniform flow of water through the barrier sills106. In another embodiment, a chamfer surface or other symmetricalsloping surface may be incorporated between the flow guide structures104 and the adjacent barrier sills 106. These chamfer surfaces mayfurther provide a uniform flow of water through the barrier sills 106,especially when the barrier sill is in the open position.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section diagram of an embodiment of the sillbarrier structure 106 included in the velocity barrier system 100 forprevention of upstream migration for one or more aquatic species. Theembodiment illustrated is but one possible cross-section shape of thesill barrier structure 106 of the barrier system 100. Further, in oneparticular embodiment of the barrier system 100, one or more of the sillbarriers 106 may be adjustable from an open position (allowing water toflow over through the flow channel created by the adjacent flow guidestructures 104 and over the sill barrier) and a closed or uprightposition (preventing water from flowing through the flow channel andover the sill barrier). The diagram of the sill barrier 106 of FIG. 3illustrates the barrier in the open position in solid lines and in theupright position in the dotted lines. As explained in more detail belowwith reference to FIGS. 6A-6B, the barrier is adjustable between theopen and upright position through a mechanical, electrical, or hydraulicsystem of the barrier sill structure 106.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the barrier sill structure 106 is generally locatedalong or partially within the riverbed 310 or existing grade of theriver or side channels. Further, the barrier sill structure 106 istypically disposed within the riverbed 310 to allow water to flow overthe structure when in the open position. The barrier sill structure 106includes an approach surface 302, a crest surface 304, a runoff or rampsurface 306 and a stilling basin 303. These components operate to createa uniform flow of water with an increased velocity over the barrier,returning the water flow to a normal flow after flowing over the barriersill structure 106. In FIG. 3 , water of the river 102 flows from theleft-hand side of the figure (or upriver) to the right-hand side of thefigure (or downriver). As such, the water of the river 102 passes overthe barrier sill structure 106 located within the riverbed 310 of theriver.

Water flowing downriver encounters the approach surface 302 of thebarrier sill 106. The approach surface 302 is generally a flat surfacethat creates a substantially perpendicular surface from the riverbed 310to a crest surface 304 of the barrier sill 106. Water flowing over thebarrier sill 106 is thereby vertically contracted as it passes over thecrest 304 of the barrier. By vertically contracting the volume of wateras it flows over the barrier sill 106, the velocity of the flow of wateris increased. As also explained in more detail below, the volume ofwater is similarly horizontally contracted through the flow guidestructures 104 to further increase the water flow velocity. Furtherdownriver from the crest 304, the barrier sill 106 includes a slopingrunoff surface 306 that slopes from the crest to generally below theexisting riverbed 310. This sloping runoff surface 306 further increasesthe flow velocity of the water over the barrier sill 106. Continuingdownriver, the barrier sill 106 includes a stilling basin 303. Thestilling basin 303 includes a hole with a depth that lies below thegeneral depth of the riverbed 310. An upriver portion of the stillingbasin 303 is formed by a bottom portion of the runoff surface 306 of thebarrier sill 106. In one embodiment, a downriver portion of the stillingbasin 303 is formed by an upward slope in the riverbed 310 extendingfrom the lower depth of the basin to the natural depth of the riverbed310. In another embodiment, the downriver portion of the stilling basin303 is constructed as a single piece with the barrier sill 106 such thatthe entirety of the stilling basing 303 is constructed from the samematerial as the barrier sill 106. Regardless of the embodiment used, thestilling basin 303 operates to collect the water flowing over thebarrier sill 106 and return the flow velocity to a natural flow of theriver. In this manner, the flow velocity of the river 102 may beincreased as the water flows over the barrier sill 106, but may remainat a natural flow velocity in other portions of the river 102.

As mentioned, some embodiments of the barrier sill 106 allow for thesill to be adjustable between an open position and an upright position.When water is allowed to flow over the barrier sill 106 (with anincreased velocity), the barrier sill is considered to be in the openconfiguration. In an upright configuration (shown in FIG. 3 with thedotted lines), the barrier sill 106 operates to prevent water fromflowing over the sill. As should be appreciated, however, water may passover the barrier sill 106 even in the upright configuration when thewater level of the river 102 extends the vertical extension of theupright barrier, such as in flooding or other high water level events.In general, however, the barrier sill 106 is designed to prevent waterfrom flowing over the sill in a typical annual waterline fluctuation inthe upright position.

During adjustment from open configuration to upright configuration, therunoff surface 306 of the barrier sill 106 moves from a generallyhorizontal position to a generally vertical position, extending from theriverbed 310 past the waterline of the river 102. As such, the barriersill 106 may include a hinged mechanism that allows the barrier sill 106to pivot about the hinge from the open to the upright position and back.Various mechanisms to adjust the barrier sill 106 between the twopositions are discussed in more detail below with relation to FIGS. 6Aand 6B. Through the adjustment of the one or more barrier sills 106 ofthe velocity barrier system 100, a desired velocity of a flow of waterover the open barrier sills may be achieved to prevent the migration ofone or more aquatic species past the barrier.

For example, FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first configuration 400of a velocity barrier system 100 for prevention of upstream migrationfor one or more aquatic species. The velocity barrier system 100 of FIG.4 is the same system illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and discussed above.Thus, the barrier system 100 of FIG. 4 includes six sill barriers 106 ofvarying widths, namely barrier sill 108, barrier sill 110, barrier sill112, barrier sill 114, barrier sill 116, and barrier sill 118. Disposedbetween each barrier sill 106 of the system 100 is a flow guidestructure 104 to guide water over one or more of the barrier sills 106.The barrier sills 106 of the velocity barrier system 100 may eachinclude the same cross-sectional shape as that shown in FIG. 3 anddiscussed above, such that each sill barrier includes an approachsurface 302, a crest 304, a runoff surface 306 and a stilling basing303. In general, however, the sill barriers 106 may be of any shape andsize to accommodate an increase in flow velocity over the sill barrieras water from the river 102 flows through the barrier system 100.Further, one or more of the sill barriers 106 may be adjustable betweenan open position that allows water to flow over the sill barrier and anupright position that prevents water from flowing over the sill barrierunder normal waterline conditions.

Through control of the adjustable sill barriers 106, the water flowvelocity over one or more of the sill barriers may be controlled. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 4 , barrier sill 108, barrier sill 110,barrier sill 114, and barrier sill 118 are in the upright configurationsuch that water does not flow over the barrier sills. Rather, water isforced to flow over barrier sill 112 and barrier sill 116, which are inthe open or down position. Through the configuration of the variousbarrier sills 106 of the barrier system 100, the available paths throughwhich water can flow through the barrier system 100 are controlled.Further, because the configuration of the barrier sills 106 as shown inFIG. 4 effectively horizontally contract the width of river, the flow ofwater through the open barrier sills 112, 116 increases in velocity. Inaddition and as described above, the open barrier sills 112, 116 alsoinclude a vertical or depth contraction to further increase the velocityof the water flowing through the barrier system 100. To further increasethe flow velocity, one of the open barrier sills 112, 116 may beadjusted to the upright position to prevent water from flowing over thenewly upright barrier.

In yet another example, operation of the barrier system 100 may decreasethe water velocity. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a secondconfiguration 500 of a velocity barrier system 100 for prevention ofupstream migration for one or more aquatic species. In general, thevelocity barrier 100 illustrated in FIG. 5 is the same as that describedabove with relation to FIG. 4 and includes barrier sill 108, barriersill 110, barrier sill 112, barrier sill 114, barrier sill 116, andbarrier sill 118, with a flow guide structure 104 disposed between eachbarrier sill. However, in this configuration 500, barrier sill 108 is inthe open position such that water from the river 102 may flow over thebarrier sill. Thus, the difference between the embodiment 400 shown inFIG. 4 and the embodiment 500 shown in FIG. 5 is that the barrier sill108 is in the upright position in embodiment 400 and in the openposition in embodiment 500. This illustrates the adjustable nature ofthe barrier sills 106 of the barrier system 100 to alter the flowvelocity of the water through the system. In particular, by allowingwater to flow through barrier sill 108, the velocity flow of waterthrough the open barrier sills 108, 112, 116 of the barrier system 100may be reduced. Alternatively, by adjusting more barrier sills 106 intothe upright position, the velocity flow of water through any openbarrier sills may be increased. In this manner, an operation of thebarrier system 100 may control or tune the velocity of water flowthrough the barrier system as desired, such as to prevent certainaquatic species from upriver migration.

An operator of the barrier system 100 may adjust the flow velocity forany reason and may incorporate many types of configurations of thebarrier sills 106 of the system. For example, it may be determined thata particular aquatic species can be prevented from upriver migrationthrough a free overfall configuration. In this particular configurationof the system 100, each of the barrier sills 106 are placed in theupright position such that water flows over the upright sills, creatinga waterfall on the downriver side of the barrier sill. This may preventaquatic species that cannot travel up a waterfall from migratingupriver. This configuration may also be selected when it is desired tocreate a higher waterline upriver from the barrier system 100. As such,upriver flooding or downriver water levels may be considered whendeciding the proper configuration for the barrier system 100. In oneparticular embodiment, readings from one or more waterline sensors,water velocity flow sensors, and water usage meters (both locatedupriver and/or downriver from the barrier system 100) may be obtainedand utilized to determine the barrier system configuration.

In another example, upriver waterline sensors or water velocity flowsensors may detect a potential flooding situation. To prevent upriverflooding, each of the barrier sills 106 of the barrier system 100 may beadjusted to an open position to allow water to flow through the barrierwith as little obstruction as possible. This may be done, in onecircumstance, if the water velocity is high enough from the floodingcondition to prevent upriver migration or, in another circumstance, toprevent the upriver flooding regardless of upriver migration of aquaticspecies. In this manner, public safety may be weighed against theprevention of upriver species migration when determining the properbarrier system 100 configuration for the river conditions.

Between the full upright configuration and the full open configuration,the barrier system 100 may be adjusted to any number of otherconfigurations, as explained above. For example, a subset of the barriersills 106 of the barrier system 100 may be in the open position, whileothers may be in the upright position (such as that described above withrelation to FIG. 4 ). Further, the desired flow velocity through theopen barrier sills may be controlled by the number of barrier sills thatare upright versus open. In general, flow through some adjustablebarrier sills may be controlled through adjustment of other barrier sillwithin the barrier system. For example, placing one or more of thebarrier sills 106 in an upright position may increase flow through thebarrier sills that are in the open position. An upriver flow velocity ofthe river 102 may also be considered when determining the number ofbarrier sills to place in the open position and in the upright position.Thus, to achieve or exceed a threshold water velocity through any openbarrier sill 106 of the system 100 to prevent migration of a particularaquatic species, information of a current velocity flow may be obtainedand the barrier sills of the system may be adjusted accordingly.

In yet another embodiment, one or more of the barrier sills 106 of thebarrier system 100 are placed in a partially upright position. In otherwords, it is not required that the barrier sills 106 be in a fullyupright or fully open position. Rather, the barrier sills 106 may beadjusted to be adjusted to any position between fully upright and fullyopen. For example, the barrier sills 106 may be adjusted to a partiallyupright position that allows water to overfall the barrier sill, withthe waterfall being less than a similar situation with the barrier sillin the fully upright position. In another example, one or more of thebarrier sills 106 may be in a partially upright position (therebyallowing some overflow) with other barrier sills are in the fully openposition. This may be selected as the barrier system 100 configurationwhen upriver flooding is a concern such that water is allowed to flowover the barrier when the waterline of the river 102 reaches aparticular height, while still providing some water velocity controlthrough the open barrier sills 106.

Through control of the barrier sills 106 of the barrier system 100, thevelocity of the flow of water through the barrier system may be tuned orselected in response to environmental or predetermined information. FIG.6 is a flowchart of one particular method 600 for controlling a velocitybarrier system 100 for prevention of upstream migration for one or moreaquatic species. In general, the operations of the method 600 of FIG. 6may be performed or executed by a control device or control system incommunication with the barrier system 100. More particularly, thecontrol system may adjust one or more of the barrier sills 106 of thebarrier system 100 in response to obtained or received information toachieve a target flow velocity through the barrier system.

Beginning in operation 602, the control system obtains or receives atarget water flow velocity for the barrier system 100. In someinstances, the target water flow velocity is a velocity that preventsupstream migration of a particular aquatic species. This target waterflow velocity may be input to the control system by an operator, or maybe obtained from one or more databases of water velocities. In operation604, the control system may also receive upriver and/or downriverinformation, such as water line height, potential flood readings, andwater flow velocity from locations upriver from the barrier system anddownriver from the barrier system. This information may be provided tothe control system through a control system user, or may be providedfrom one or more sensors located along the river 102. In general, thisinformation provides the control system with a current condition of theriver 102, both upstream and downstream of the barrier system 100. Itshould be appreciated that other sensors and other information may beobtained and provided to the control system for use by the controlsystem of the barrier 100.

In operation 606, the control system calculates a barrier configurationthat meets or exceeds the target water flow velocity based at least onthe current measured river conditions. As explained above, theadaptability of the barrier sills 106 of the barrier system 100 allowfor various water flow velocities through the barrier system 100. Inparticular, the barrier sills 106 of the system 100 may be adjusted toan open position or an upright position (or between the open positionand the upright position). Through some combination of open and uprightbarrier sills 106, an estimated velocity flow through the barrier may beobtained. The control system, therefore, may utilize the current riverconditions to determine a particular configuration of the barrier system100 that meets or exceeds the target velocity flow through the barrier.In operation 608, the control system adjusts one or more of the barriersills 106 of the barrier system 100 in accordance with the calculatedbarrier configuration to achieve or exceed the target velocity flowthrough the barrier.

In operation 610, the control system may receive additional informationfrom the operator, the barrier system 100, and/or the river sensorsdiscussed above. This information provides information on changes to theriver environment, including increases or decreases in the waterline ofthe river, increases or decreases in flow velocity of the river, andpotential flooding situations of the river. With this information, thecontrol system may further adjust one or more of the barrier sills 106of the barrier system 100 in operation 612. For example, if theadditional or post-configuration information indicates a potentialflooding situation upriver, the control system may adjust one or more ofthe barrier sills 106 into an open position to allow more of the riverwater to flow through the barrier 100. The target flow velocity may bemaintained in such circumstances as an upriver flow velocity may alsoincrease with the potential for flooding.

To adjust the hydraulics or configuration of the barrier system 100, oneor more of the barrier sills 106 may include an adjustable mechanism toadjust the barrier sill between an upright position and an openposition. FIG. 7A illustrates a cross-section diagram of a firstadjustable barrier sill structure 702 for a velocity barrier system 100for prevention of upstream migration for one or more aquatic species.The adjustable barrier sill 702 is but one embodiment of a barrier sillthat may be included with the velocity barrier system 100. In someembodiments of the velocity barrier 100, each of the barrier sills 106of the system 100 include the adjustable barrier sill 702 shown in FIG.7A. In other embodiments, fewer than all of the barrier sills 106 may beadjustable through the barrier sill embodiment shown in FIG. 7A.

As discussed above, the barrier sill 702 may include an approach surface710, a runoff surface 712 and a stilling basin 714. In some adjustablebarrier sills 702, all or a portion of the runoff surface 712 may beadjustable between an open or down position and an upright position. Tofacilitate the adjustable nature of the barrier sill 702, an adjustingmechanism 708 may be incorporated into the barrier sill. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 7A, the adjusting mechanism 708 includesa hydraulic piston 716 coupled to the downstream portion of the runoffsurface 712 and the bottom of the stilling basin 714. When activated,the hydraulic piston 716 exerts an upward force on the runoff surface712 or gate 704 to rotate the gate in a counterclockwise rotation abouta hinged mechanism 706. The rotation of the gate 704 about the hinge 706orients the gate into a partially vertical position to adjust the gateinto an upright position. As should be appreciated, the hydraulic piston716 may adjust the gate 704 into any position between fully open (orhorizontal) to fully upright.

As the hydraulic piston 716 is coupled to the gate 704, the gate may berotated in a clockwise rotation about the hinge 706 to return the gateto the open position. In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism 708may utilize the pressure applied to the runoff surface 712 to aid inreturning the gate 704 to the open position. In other words, thepressure from the water striking the runoff surface 712 may push thegate towards the open position when the force from the hydraulic piston716 is removed. Through the operation of the hydraulic piston 716, thegate 712 may therefore be adjusted between an open position and anupright position, as determined by a control system of the velocitybarrier system 100. Thus, the control system discussed above may providethe one or more control signals to the hydraulic piston 716 to adjustthe position of the adjustable barrier sill 702.

FIG. 7B is a cross-section diagram of a second adjustable barrier sillstructure 720 for a velocity barrier system 100 for prevention ofupstream migration for one or more aquatic species. Similar to theembodiment of the barrier sill discussed above, the barrier sillstructure 720 of FIG. 7B includes an adjusting mechanism 726 to adjust aposition of a gate 722 between an open or down position and an uprightposition. In particular, the embodiment 720 of the barrier sill includesa pneumatic air system located beneath the gate 722. A rubber (or othermaterial) bladder 724 is in sealed communication with the air system 726such that the pneumatic air system may inject air into the bladder 724.The bladder is located between the gate 722 and a bottom surface 730 ofthe barrier sill such that, when the bladder is inflated by thepneumatic air system 726, the bladder exerts an upward force on thebottom side of the gate 722. Similar to above, the gate is hinged 728and rotates counterclockwise when the upward force from the bladder 724is applied. The more air that is injected into the bladder, the more thegate 722 rotates about the hinge, until the gate reaches a fully uprightposition (which may be completely or partially vertical). Thus, throughthe injection of air into the bladder 724, the gate 722 may be movedinto the upright position. Control of the amount of air injected intothe bladder 724 may place the gate 722 in a more or less uprightposition.

To return the gate 722 to a fully open position, the pneumatic airsystem 726 may remove air from the bladder 724, thereby deflating thebladder. The gate 722 thus rotates about the hinge 728 clockwise as thebladder deflates until the gate reaches the open position. Through theoperation of the pneumatic air system 726, the gate 722 may therefore beadjusted between an open position and an upright position, as determinedby a control system of the velocity barrier system 100. Thus, thecontrol system discussed above may provide the one or more controlsignals to the pneumatic air system 726 to adjust the position of theadjustable barrier sill 720.

Returning to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , some embodiments of the velocitybarrier system 100 may include additional features integrated into oradjacent to the barrier system. For example, the velocity barrier system100 may include a fish passage section 124, such as a fish ladderadjacent to a barrier sill, such as barrier sill 108. In general, thefish ladder 124 provides a path for a particular type of fish to bypassthe barrier system 100, while preventing other types of fish frommigrating through the fish ladder. Similarly, the velocity barriersystem 100 may include one or more boat passage systems 126 that allowthe passage of water craft through the velocity barrier. Similar to thefish ladder 124, the boat passage 126 may also be configured to preventmigration of a particular aquatic species through the boat passage, suchas through a series of locks that allow the passage of watercraft, butnot the aquatic species.

Turning to FIG. 8 , an example electronic device 800 includingoperational units 802-812 arranged to perform various operations of thepresently disclosed technology is shown, such as the control system forthe velocity barrier system 100 described above. The operational units802-812 of the device 800 are implemented by hardware or a combinationof hardware and software to carry out the principles of the presentdisclosure. It will be understood by persons of skill in the art thatthe operational units 802-812 described in FIG. 8 may be combined orseparated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of the presentdisclosure. Therefore, the description herein supports any possiblecombination or separation or further definition of the operational units802-812.

In one implementation, the electronic device 800 includes a display unit802 configured to display information, such as a graphical userinterface, and a processing unit 804 in communication with the displayunit 802 and an input unit 806 configured to receive data from one ormore input devices or systems. Various operations described herein maybe implemented by the processing unit 804 using data received by theinput unit 806 to output information for display using the display unit802.

Additionally, in one implementation, the electronic device 800 includesunits implementing the operations described with respect to FIG. 6 . Forexample, the electronic device 800 may include a sensor receiving unit808 for receiving one or more sensor readings of other information of abody of water. Further, the electronic device 800 may include a flowvelocity calculating unit 810 configured to determine a target flowvelocity for the body of water through the velocity barrier 100 inresponse to the information received. In a similar manner, a barriercontrol unit 812 may be included that creates and transmits controlsignals to the velocity barrier system 100 to configure the velocitybarrier to reach or exceed the target flow velocity. For example, thebarrier control unit 812 may provide a signal to one or more of thebarrier sills 106 of the barrier system 100 to adjust the barrier sillbetween an open position and an upright position.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a computing deviceor computer system 900 which may be used in implementing the embodimentsof the systems disclosed above. In particular, the computing device ofFIG. 9 is one embodiment of the control system that performs one of moreof the operations described above to control the flow velocity throughthe barrier system 100. The computer system (system) includes one ormore processors 902-906. Processors 902-906 may include one or moreinternal levels of cache (not shown) and a bus controller or businterface unit to direct interaction with the processor bus 912.Processor bus 912, also known as the host bus or the front side bus, maybe used to couple the processors 902-906 with the system interface 914.System interface 914 may be connected to the processor bus 912 tointerface other components of the system 900 with the processor bus 912.For example, system interface 914 may include a memory controller 914for interfacing a main memory 916 with the processor bus 912. The mainmemory 916 typically includes one or more memory cards and a controlcircuit (not shown). System interface 914 may also include aninput/output (I/O) interface 920 to interface one or more I/O bridges orI/O devices with the processor bus 912. One or more I/O controllersand/or I/O devices may be connected with the I/O bus 926, such as I/Ocontroller 928 and I/O device 940, as illustrated.

I/O device 930 may also include an input device (not shown), such as analphanumeric input device, including alphanumeric and other keys forcommunicating information and/or command selections to the processors902-906. Another type of user input device includes cursor control, suchas a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicatingdirection information and command selections to the processors 902-906and for controlling cursor movement on the display device.

System 900 may include a dynamic storage device, referred to as mainmemory 916, or a random access memory (RAM) or other computer-readabledevices coupled to the processor bus 912 for storing information andinstructions to be executed by the processors 902-906. Main memory 916also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediateinformation during execution of instructions by the processors 902-906.System 900 may include a read only memory (ROM) and/or other staticstorage device coupled to the processor bus 912 for storing staticinformation and instructions for the processors 902-906. The system setforth in FIG. 9 is but one possible example of a computer system thatmay employ or be configured in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure.

According to one embodiment, the above techniques may be performed bycomputer system 900 in response to processor 904 executing one or moresequences of one or more instructions contained in main memory 916.These instructions may be read into main memory 916 from anothermachine-readable medium, such as a storage device. Execution of thesequences of instructions contained in main memory 916 may causeprocessors 902-906 to perform the process steps described herein. Inalternative embodiments, circuitry may be used in place of or incombination with the software instructions. Thus, embodiments of thepresent disclosure may include both hardware and software components.

A machine readable medium includes any mechanism for storing ortransmitting information in a form (e.g., software, processingapplication) readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). Such media maytake the form of, but is not limited to, non-volatile media and volatilemedia. Non-volatile media includes optical or magnetic disks. Volatilemedia includes dynamic memory, such as main memory 916. Common forms ofmachine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, magneticstorage medium (e.g., floppy diskette); optical storage medium (e.g.,CD-ROM); magneto-optical storage medium; read only memory (ROM); randomaccess memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM andEEPROM); flash memory; or other types of medium suitable for storingelectronic instructions.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include various steps, which aredescribed in this specification. The steps may be performed by hardwarecomponents or may be embodied in machine-executable instructions, whichmay be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processorprogrammed with the instructions to perform the steps. Alternatively,the steps may be performed by a combination of hardware, software and/orfirmware.

Described above are implementations of systems and methods for avelocity barrier system. While multiple implementations are disclosed,still other implementations of the presently disclosed technology willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which shows and describes illustrative implementations ofthe presently disclosed technology. As will be realized, the presentlydisclosed technology is capable of modifications in various aspects, allwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the presently disclosedtechnology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to beregarded as illustrative in nature and not limiting.

It is believed that the present disclosure and many of its attendantadvantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it willbe apparent that various changes may be made in the form, constructionand arrangement of the components without departing from the disclosedsubject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages.The form described is merely explanatory, and it is the intention of thefollowing claims to encompass and include such changes.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for controlling a natural body of water,the system comprising: an adjustable barrier sill including an approachsurface, a stilling basin, and a sloping runoff between the approachsurface and the stilling basin, the approach surface verticallycontracting a volume of a water flow in the natural body of water; avertical wall directing the volume of the water flow in the natural bodyof water over the adjustable barrier sill thereby changing a velocity ofthe water flow; and a control system controlling movement of theadjustable barrier sill, the control system adjusting the velocity ofthe water flow based on a target velocity by moving the adjustablebarrier sill, and the stilling basin changing the velocity of the waterflow from the target velocity to a natural flow velocity of the naturalbody of water.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vertical wall isdisposed adjacent to the adjustable barrier sill.
 3. The system of claim1, wherein the vertical wall extends at least partially along adirection of the water flow.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein thevertical wall includes a curved portion to funnel the volume of thewater flow in the natural body of water over the adjustable barriersill.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the stilling basin includes abottom portion and an upward slope downriver from the bottom portion. 6.The system of claim 1, wherein the stilling basin includes an upriversloping portion and a downriver sloping portion, the upriver slopingportion being formed by at least a portion of the sloping runoff.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the stilling basin has a depth below ariverbed depth.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sloping runoffvertically expands the volume of the water flow to reduce the velocityof the water flow.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the target velocitycorresponds to a swimming capability of at least one aquatic species,the control system adjusting the velocity of the water flow in thenatural body of water such that a migration of the at least one aquaticspecies is prevented.
 10. A method for controlling a natural body ofwater, the method comprising: vertically contracting a volume of a waterflow in the natural body of water using an approach surface of a barriersill; horizontally contracting the volume of the water flow using avertical wall; changing a velocity of the water flow over a runoffsurface of the barrier sill based on the approach surface verticallycontracting the volume of the water flow and the vertical wallhorizontally contracting the volume of the water flow; adjusting thevelocity of the water flow to be equal to or greater than a targetvelocity by controlling movement of the barrier sill using a controlsystem; and returning the velocity of the water flow to a natural flowvelocity in the natural body of water using a stilling basin.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the stilling basin returns the velocity ofthe water flow to the natural flow velocity by collecting at least someof the volume of the water flow vertically contracted by the approachsurface in the stilling basin.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein theapproach surface extends at least partially perpendicular to a directionof the water flow in the natural body of water.
 13. The method of claim10, wherein the vertical wall extends at least partially along adirection of the water flow in the natural body of water.
 14. The methodof claim 10, wherein the control system includes a computing devicecommunicatively coupled to a rotatable portion of the runoff surface.15. The method of claim 14, wherein the rotatable portion includes agate movable between an upright position and a down position.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the gate extends at least partiallyvertically above a static portion of the runoff surface in the uprightposition and is level with the static portion of the runoff surface inthe down position.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein a hydraulicpiston provides a first force to move the gate into the upright positionand the volume of the water flow provides a second force to move thegate into the down position.
 18. The method of claim 10, wherein: thevertical wall is a first vertical wall; and horizontally contracting thevolume of the water flow includes funneling the volume of the water flowbetween the first vertical wall and a second vertical wall.
 19. A systemfor controlling a natural body of water, the system comprising: anadjustable barrier sill with an approach surface extending verticallyand contracting a volume of a water flow in the natural body of water,the adjustable barrier sill including a sloping runoff between theapproach surface and a stilling basin; a flow guide structurehorizontally directing the volume of the water flow over the adjustablebarrier sill, the flow guide structure and the approach surface changinga velocity of the water flow in the natural body of water; and a controlsystem adjusting the velocity of the water flow based on a targetvelocity by moving the adjustable barrier sill, the stilling basinreturning the velocity of the water flow to a natural flow velocity ofthe natural body of water.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the flowguide structure includes one or more vertical walls adjacent to theadjustable barrier sill and extending at least partially along adirection of the water flow.